Knickerbocker



March 1964 K. KNICKERBOCKER 3,125,247

DISPENSING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 I Q dl/ Knickerbocker Filed Dec.2. 1960 INVENTOR.

BY A f 10k E) March 1954 K. KNIICKERQBOCKER 3,125,247

DISPENSING APPARATUS 5 Sheetsheet 2 Filed Dec. 2. 1960 Karl K/I/Zl'erboa? INVENTOR T1 7 BY Q AT RNE March 1964 K. KNICKERBOCKER 3,125,247

DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 2. 1960 5 Sheet -het s m'zterbacter IINVENTOR.

BY ns...

March 17, 1964 mc oc I 3, 125,247

DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 2, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TOR.

Kdr/ Kn/cker ader March 17, 1964 K. KNICKERBOCKER 3,

DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 2. 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ,(ar/[make/backer INVENTOR.

' BY H /"7 ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofi 3,125,247 Patented Mar.17., 1964 3,125,247 DISPENSING APPARATUS Karl Knickerbocker, 400Baycrest Drive, Venice, Fla. Filed Dec. 2, 1960, Ser. No. 73,318 Claims.(Cl. 221--Z7) This invention relates to dispensing apparatus. Whilecertain aspects of the present inventive concept may be broadlyapplicable in various types of dispensing means, the invention, as hereshown by way of example, is more particularly concerned with theindividual dispensing of newspapers, or like generally thin, flatobjects and materials. Further, as here presented, the device isdesigned for coin or check control. However, since the present inventionis not concerned with the detailed mechanism of any particular coin orcheck control device, such means is not here presented in detail.

One of the many problems with respect to individual newspaperdispensing, as in a vending machine, not heretofore satisfactorilysolved, is provision of means permitting the ready authorized withdrawalof a single paper while precluding unauthorized removal of other papers.In the present invention this problem is solved by the provision of anautomatically actuated valve plate movable in response to the authorizedwithdrawal of a paper to position the valve in the path of succeedingpapers, thus precluding further paper withdrawal until the actuatingmechanism is again brought into action as authorized by the insertion ofthe proper coin or check in the control mechanism.

Another problem confronting the designers of such devices, is that ofconvenient bulk loading and the individual presentation of papers forauthorized withdrawal. In the present invention this problem is solvedby an adequate door arrangement which may be operated to fully exposethe interior and facilitate the deposit of an adequate supply of papers.The invention also provides conveyor means automatically operable tosuccessively present succeeding papers of a stack for individual manualauthorized removal while precluding the danger of mutilization either inthe servicing of the papers for withdrawal or in their withdrawal.

A further feature of the present invention is the presentation of papersfor vending by which they are exposed to view showing the headlines,banner, features and the like, but yet retaining the paper againstunauthorized withdrawal. Numerous other objects, features and ad-'vantages of the present invention will be apparent from theconsideration of the accompanying drawings taken in' connection with thedetailed specification.

In broad general terms, the present embodiment of the inventive conceptmay be defined as including a cabinet with an enclosing structurereadily openable to accept a substantial stack of conventionalnewspapers. In the form of the invention the stack is supported on aconveyor belt by which the entire stack may be moved toward thedispensing outlet in progressive step by step procedure without damageor mutilation to the papers. The operating mechanism includes a manuallyoperable lever, preferably coin or check released, by which the papersare moved by the conveyor forwardly to a position where the first paperof the stack is positioned for manual manipulation for withdrawal. Suchwithdrawal of the paper resets a retaining valve so as to preclude thewithdrawal of further papers without authorization by the actuation ofthe lever. Another important feature of the invention is the provisionof means whereby the conveyor actuation under the influence of themanual lever is so limited as to preclude excessive conveyor movement,hence establishing a movement readily controlled as to paper thickness.Thus, while one edition may be of one thickness, at readjustment of thedevice to conform with the thickness of other editions is not required.From the following detailed description of the mechanism, it will befurther apparent that through linkage and ratchet mechanism the deviceprovides simple, effective and efficient mechanism for the individualdispensing under coin control of newspapers or like material. It willfurther be seen that the mechanism insures against the unauthorizeddistribution of papers, and further provides an arrangement not onlydurable and free of the danger of maladjustment, undue wear anddeterioration, but one highly suited to the demands of economicmanufacture.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front plan view of one embodiment of the invention herepresented by way of illustration,

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of that form of the invention presented inFIGURE 1,

FIG. 3 is a detail of parts of the paper slide locking latch shown inpaper release position,

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of the operating mechanism,

FIG. 5 is a detail similar to FIGURE 3 showing the latch lockingmechanism in delatching position,

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the operating mechanism shown with theoperating handle in forward position,

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary front elevation showing the valve lockingmechanism in released position and ready for the delivery of the paper,

FIG. 8 is a similar view showing the position of the parts after thedispensing of a paper,

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of FIGURE7, and

FIG. 10 is a similar sectional view taken on the line ltllt) of FIGURE8.

Referring to FIGURES l and 2, it Will be seen that the present inventionis here embodied in a cabinet generally indicated by the numeral 10,having an inclined paper display and discharge front 11. While the baseof the cabinet is here shown as being of rectangular form, there isprovided an upper forwardly inclined Wall 12 hinged at 13 to the upperend of the rear wall of the cabinet. Hingedly secured as at 14 is theinclined front face 11, with respect to which reference will be made asto structural detail hereinafter. The front 15 of the cabinet is alsohere shown as forwardly inclined and terminates with an upper lip 1.6hinged as at 17. This arrangement is such so as to permit the lip to bemoved to hinge outwardly to facilitate inspection, adjustment or repairwhile both the front 11 and the rear wall 12 may be hinged to fullyexpose the interior of the cabinet for the reception of a quantity ofnewspapers.

At the side of the cabinet there is mounted an operating mechanismenclosure 18 from which extends the operating handle 19 on its shaft 20.

Referring more particularly to FIGURES 4 and 6, the operating mechanismof the present form of the device includes a camming plate 21 fixed tothe shaft 20 of the operating lever 1?, which plate together with theshaft and lever is normally retained in inoperative position and againstmovement by coin'or check control latch 22, which may be released uponthe insertion of the proper coin or check through a rod 23. Since thepresent invention is not concerned with the coin or check controlmechanism, suflice to say that upon the insertion of the proper coin orcheck the rod 23 will be actuated to release latch 22 to free the camplate 21 for movement in response to movement of the handle.

The normal inoperative position of the handle 19 as indicated by thedotted lines in FIGURE 4, is in a reverse position rearwardly inclinedwith [respect to the cabinet.

Upon release of the cam plate by the insertion of the cam plate in thesame counter-clockwise direction. A conventional full stroke springurged pawl 24 is provided which may engage the ratchet teeth 25 on thelower segment of the cam plate to insure a full stroke of the handle andthe cam plate before a return movement of the cam plate to its normalneutral position, as illustrated in FIGURE 4. On the upper quadrant ofthe cam plate 21 there is provided a lever camming slot 26 whichreceives the cam slot follower 27 of an actuating lever 28. The lever 28extends outwardly and upwardly from the cam plate to be pivotallyengaged as at 29 with a conveyor actuating link 30. The lever 28however, extends beyond the pivotal point 29* to be pivotally engaged asat pivot 31 with a slide bar 32 engaged by a spring 33 mounted on aspring bracket 34; the spring '33 is merely a cushioning springlimitedly slidable with respect to bracket 34 to retard terminalmovement of the slide bar 32. A releasabily pivoted bell crank latch arm35 pivoted at 35A on a transverse rod 35B normaily holds the slide inits forward position as shown in FIG- URE 4, with the slide 32 thusretained in the forward position by the hook 35C at the free end of thebell crank, the operating lever 28 will pivot on the plate 32 as the camplate will move under the influence of the lever 19 and the shaft 20. Insuch pivotal movement with respect to the plate 32, a clockwise movementof the lever 28 induces an outward movement of the link 30. While theouter end of the link is pivotally connected as at 29 with the lever 28,the opposite inner end of the link 30 engages an operating ratchetsegment 36 loosely mounted on shaft 40 to which is pivotally secured asat 29A in the manner of the pivotal connection 29 at the other end ofthe link at 30 referred to above. A ratchet pawl 37 normally engages theratchet teeth 38 of a conveyor shaft ratchet 39 fixed to shaft 4t). Itwill be noted [from the drawings that the ratchet segment 36 and theratchet wheel 39 are coaxially' mounted on a shaft 40 while the initialmovement of the handle rotating the shaft 20' in counter-clockwiserotation pivots the lever 28 with respect to the slide 32 in clockwisemovement because of the fixed position of the plate '32. Thus moving thelink 30 to actuate the segment 36 it may be seen that upon release ofthe plate 32 by the crank arm '35 the forces exerted upon the lever .28will move the slide 32 rearwardly against the tension of the spring 33causing the lever 28 to pivot on the pivotal mounting 29 at the forwardend of the link 30, thus terminating forward movement of the link 311and movement of its con nected ratchet support and further drive for theconveyor shaft 40 through the ratchet wheel 39. Such pivotal movementhaving been transposed from the fulcrum 31 of the plate 32 to thefulcrum 29 of the link 30, not only terminates the movement of theconveyor shaft 40 but at the same time a locking bell crank pawl 41,pivoted at 42 and connected by spring 43 is rocked to engage the teeth44 of the ratchet segment positively insuring termination of thecounter-clockwise rotation thereof with the shaft 40.

For resetting the conveyor, which will hereinafter be discussed, byclockwise rotation of the shaft 40, there is provided a release lever 50including a detent 51, the lever 50 being held in vertical inoperativeposition during the normal dispensing operations of the apparatus, by asimple coil spring 52. When the released lever 50 is moved downwardly bycounter-clockwise rotation on its axis 53, the detent 51 strikes theextended arm 54 of the ratchet pawl 37, releasing the pawl fromengagement with the ratchet teeth 38 of the wheel 39 and at the sametime causing the arm 54- to strike the arm 55 of a pivoted ratchet catch56 which otherwise engages the teeth 38 of the ratchet wheel 39' topreclude inadvertent released motion. With the ratchet wheel soreleased, it with its shaft 40 is free to be rotated in clockwisedirection to reset the conveyor.

Reference may be had to FIGURES 9 and 10 for a consideration of theconveyor mechanisms. It will be understood from a consideration of thesefigures that the shaft 40' extends inwardly transversely in the machineand is provided with a roller 60 to which the end 61 of a conveyor belt62 is attached.

From the rollers 60 of the shaft 40', the conveyor belt is entrainedover a parallel idler roller 63, and extends therefrom rearwardly in themachine to engage a conveyor follow block 64 mounted on casters 65,guided as at 66. Thus the arrangement is such that as the handle '19 ismoved forwardly upon release of the cam plate 21 by the coin controllatch 22, the shaft 40 is rotated until release of the slide 32, henceimparting successive limited step by step motions to the conveyorfollower 64.

For determining the extent of the rotation of the shaft 40 with responseto a full movement of the lever 19, then hence the for-ward progress ofthe bulk paper supply on the conveyor in front of the conveyor follower,there is provided a limit feeler leaf 7t) pivotally mounted on shaft 71and connected by arm 7'2. and link 73 to the arm 74 of the latch 35. Bythis arrangement, as the conveyor is moved to present successive papersforwardly in the device, each succeeding paper strikes the leaf 70 topivotally move the same, rocking the link forwardly to counter clockwiserotate the bell crank latch and re lease the slide 32 at which time theIlatclr releases the slide 32 transferring the pivotal movement of thelever 28 from its fulcrum point 31 on the sliding plate to its fulcrum29 on the link 30, thus terminating rotation of the shaft 40 and hencefurther movement of the conveyor arrangement.

The movement of parts in sequence of operation thus far described, bywhich succeeding papers are presented to the front 11 of the cabinet, isaccompanied by simultaneous action [for successive release of the papersthus presented. The hinged front 11 of the cabinet defines a paperdisplay opening through which the headline and banner of the newspapermay be viewed either directly or through a transparent protectivecovering. Below the opening 80 a fixed cover 8 1 defines a paperdischarge channel '82. Beneath the channel 82 there is provided a valveguide 83 through which valve plates 84 move to an upward positionindicated in FIGURE d0, whereby they confront the front paper of anystack presented by the movement of the conveyor. However, in thecounter-clockwise movement of the cam plate 21, the valve actuator armis retracted by the engagement of rollers 90 on cam plate on either sideof a reset arm 91 pivoted as at 92A on a bracket 92., secured as at 93independently of the cam plate 21. As the cam plate is revolved by theshaft 20 by operation of the handle 19, the arm 91 rocks incounter-clockwise direction, delatching the latch 98 from crank 99 bywithdrawing crank 99 from the catch recess of latch 98, the latch 98being pivoted as at 98 and being urged in clockwise direction by spring98". Upon the return stroke 91 picks up 99 retracting the valves topermit withdrawal of the foremost paper by' manual grip of the paper inthe opening 94 at the front of the machine. However, as the paper iswithdrawn it will contact the valve control arms 95, pivotally movingthem to reposition the valve plates in front of the next adjacentforward paper in the stack, thus precluding a successive unauthorizedwithdrawal of another paper until the handle again moves through itscycle.

As the cam plate 21 is revolved by the shaft 20 by operation of thehandle 19, the reset arm 91 rocks in a counter-clockwise directionthrough engagement of the cam rollers 90. At the terminus point of theforward pull of the handle 19, detent 96 of reset arm 91 depresses arm97 of actuator crank latch 98 which releases actuator crank 99 andallows it to nestle in slot 100 of reset arm 91, as shown in FIGURES 5and 6. When the handle 19 is returned to its normal position, reset arm91 carries actuator crank 99 back to a camrned catch 101 which causescrank to disengage itself from reset arm 91 and remain held in catch101, as shown in FIGURE 3, until a paper is withdrawn. When a paper iswithdrawn through channel 82, valve actuator arm 95 is arched downwardand through concave recesses 102, thus moving sliding valve platemechanism 84 upward, once again precluding unauthorized removal of apaper. The valve plate mechanism and its operating linkage may best beseen in FIGURES 7, 8, 9 and 10, but particularly in FIGURES 9 and 10, towit; as the forwardmost paper is grasped at uppermost portion ofdepression 112 and brought into channel 82, it engages actuator arm 95pivoted on shaft 113, swinging arm 114 counter-clockwise bringing link115 pivotally connected to link 114 at 116 upward, which brings link117, connected to link 115 at 118, upward through a clockwise arc. Upperend 119 of link 117 is pivotally connected to valve plates 84, whichcauses valve plates 84 to slide upward in channels 83. Lower end 120 oflink 117 rests somewhat freely in slot 121 of support bracket 122,forming a free pivot point for lower end of link 117. It will be notedthat adjusting screw 130 is shown as one means of restraining theremoval of more than one thickness of a given edition of a newspaper byrestricting the opening at the top of channel 82, which is constructedto take the thickest editions of newspapers.

From the foregoing description of structure and function, it is believedthat the entire operation of the apparatus will be fully understood bythose skilled in the art. Suffice, therefore, to point out that inoriginally loading the cabinet, the conveyor is reset to its rearwardposition by release of the ratchet wheel 38 connected with shaft 40 bydepression of the lever 50, whereupon the conveyor may be shifted torotate shaft 40 in clockwise direction as the conveyor is moved to therear of the cabinet. Papers may then be stacked on the conveyor withtheir edgessupported by the conveyor surface after the doors have beenswung to the open dotted line position as illustrated. Since in sosetting the machine for the original operation, the valve plates 84would normally be in lowered position, manual movement of the actuatorarm 95 is required to raise the valve plates to preclude the extractionof a first paper which otherwise would be possible without the depositof a coin and movement of the lever 19. Having manually reset the valvemechanism, the parts are as indicated in FIGURE 4, with the valve inposition. With the parts thus arranged, the insertion of a coin releasesthe cam plate and the handle is free to move forwardly to the positionof parts as indicated in FIGURE 6. As indicated by the dot and dashlines of FIGURE 4, and in FIGURES 7 and 9, after return of the handleparts will be thus arranged to permit paper withdrawal, such manualmanipulation distorts the paper to the dotted line position shown inFIGURE 9 whereupon the manual withdrawal of a paper will again reset thevalve to the position indicated in FIGURE 4.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention providesa novel, simple and improved means for the dispensing of newspapers orlike material. The machine is completely automatic in operationthroughout the dispensing of successive papers in the manner herein setforth. Among the several advantageous features, is the arrangement ofthe entire operating mechanism Within the enclosure 18, thus providingready access for inspection, adjustment and repairs of the operatingmechanism without further disassembly, other than the removal of theenclosure. Since upon upward movement of the valve, its edges arereceived within a transverse channel 140 precluding bending ordistorting the valve plate, it is impossible to extract a paper withoutauthorization by movement of the handle even though the paper becrumbled or mutilated for the purpose of unauthorized withdrawal. Sincethe doors of the cabinet swing fully open and since the conveyor may bereadily reset through operation of the lever 50, the insertion ofsuccessive batches of papers may be accomplished rapidly. A furtherimportant feature of the invention is the fact that the parts are soconstructed and arranged as to function with minimum wear, and thesimplicity is such that servicing of the machine may be accomplishedwithout requiring skilled technicians. It will, of course, be understoodthat in the practice of the invention, variations of design of the totalmachine, as well as the individual operating parts, is contemplated.Thus, numerous changes, modifications and the full use of equivalentsmay be resorted to without departure from the spirit or scope of theinvention, as outlined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A newspaper dispenser including, a cabinet defining a newspaperdischarge opening, a newspaper supporting conveyor within said cabinet,means for moving said conveyor in successive step by step movements tosuccessively present newspapers to said discharge opening, meansresponsive to the presentation of a paper at said opening forterminating the movement of said conveyor, and means successivelyoperable in response to withdrawal of a newspaper from said opening forprecluding unauthorized withdrawal of a succeeding paper.

2. An operating mechanism for the conveyor of a dispensing mechanismincluding, a camming plate, a lever, means for engaging one end of saidlever for movement by said plate, a conveyor operating link engagedintermediate the ends of said lever, slidable means for pivotallymounting the opposite end of said lever and, releasable means fortemporarily restraining said slidable means against sliding movement.

3. An operating mechanism for the conveyor of a dispensing mechanismincluding, a camming plate, a lever, means for engaging one end of saidlever for movement by said plate, a conveyor operating link engagedintermediate the ends of said lever, slidable means for pivotallymounting the opposite end of said lever, and releasable means fortemporarily restraining said slidable means against sliding movement,said last mentioned means being operable upon release to restrain saidlink against motion in response to motion of said plate.

4. An operating mechanism for the conveyor of a dispensing mechanismincluding, a camming plate, a lever, means for engaging one end of saidlever for movement by said plate, a conveyor operating link engagedintermediate the ends of said lever, slidable means for pivotallymounting the opposite end of said lever, and releasable means fortemporarily restraining said slidable means against sliding movement,said last mentioned means being operable upon release to restrain saidlink against motion in response to motion of said plate and a controlfor said releasable means operable in response to movement of a conveyorby said link.

5. A newspaper dispenser including, a cabinet defining an opening fromwhich newspapers may be manually withdrawn, a conveyor within saidcabinet for supporting a stack of newspapers with their edges inparallel relation to said opening and for moving said stack tosuccessively present newspapers to said opening for successive manualwithdrawal, and means operable to move said conveyor in successive stepby step increments equal to the thickness of newspapers of said stack,said means including a check controllable manual handle, a cam plateoperable by said handle, a pivoted lever operable by said plate, a linkengaging said lever and means for shifting the pivot point of said leverfrom operable to inoperable position with respect to said link.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS472,492 Begg Apr. 5, 1892 492,535 Slough Feb. 28, 1893 918,882 MillsApr. 20, 1909 (Other references on following page) UNITED STATES PATENTS2,255,538 Cameron Sept. 9, 1941 1,022,680 Johnson Apr, 9, 1912 2,460,396Rifkm 1, 1949 1,190,898 Hinton July 11, 1916 2,522,033 Graham Sept 12,1950 1,263,033 Campbell Apr, 16, 1918 2,644,734 Gabrellsen y 19531,326,024 c d 23 1919 5 2,766,906 Bookout et a1 Oct. 16, 1956 1,355,488McKenney Oct. 12, 1920 2,734, 72 LuX Mar. 12, 1957 1,357,071 Matthews061. 26, 1920 2,806,631 Van Vactor Sept. 17, 1957 1,677,939 VinogradovJuly 24, 1928 2,832,506 Hatcher Apr. 29, 1958

1. A NEWSPAPER DISPENSER INCLUDING, A CABINET DEFINING A NEWSPAPERDISCHARGE OPENING, A NEWSPAPER SUPPORTING CONVEYOR WITHIN SAID CABINET,MEANS FOR MOVING SAID CONVEYOR IN SUCCESSIVE STEP BY STEP MOVEMENTS TOSUCCESSIVELY PRESENT NEWSPAPERS TO SAID DISCHARGE OPENING, MEANSRESPONSIVE TO THE PRESENTATION OF A PAPER AT SAID OPENING FORTERMINATING THE MOVEMENT OF SAID CONVEYOR, AND MEANS SUCCESSIVELYOPERABLE IN RESPONSE TO WITHDRAWAL OF A NEWSPAPER FROM SAID OPENING FORPRECLUDING UNAUTHORIZED WITHDRAWAL OF A SUCCEEDING PAPER.